Could My Husband Have Celiac Disease

[AnnaH]

I cut my grain and legumes consumption about 2 years ago in an attempt to reduce my cholesterol.

After a couple of weeks I realized that I felt overall better on this diet: my energy level increased, the frequency of my migraines decreased, digestive problems (bloating, gas) has pretty much disappeared, so I stayed with the diet. In 6 months or so my decades-old depression lifted, though at that time I did not connect that to my diet. I was not fully gluten-free, I did not think I could have celiac.

This spring I started to notice that my reaction to eating wheat is getting more and more severe. I googled the subject and realized I had quite a few celiac symptoms. Around the same time I learned that my brother has developed classic celiac symptoms in the last year. That was enough for me to turn my household gluten-free. My husband just went along, he eats what he gets at home and since he always wants to loose weight he did not mind that we mainly eat vegetables and fish. I was never careful with CC and even allowed myself an occasional beer, but we both eat very limited amount of gluten in the last 2 months.

Not long ago I decided I'd like a firm diagnosis if I have celiac disease or only gluten intolerance. I saw a GI doctor who told me to start eating gluten and schedule an endoscopy in 2 weeks. DH welcomed the opportunity to have pizza, pasta, fresh bread at home. Our first glutened meal was 4 days ago. I could not even finish it, had to run to the bathroom. DH enjoyed every bread crumb of it. Next day I could hardly drag myself around, had stomach issues (and C ever since). DH had a blast eating pizza.

Next day I am even worse, DH decides to go for a long bike ride. He comes home exhausted: his muscles hurt, he had to push his bike up hills he usually clears without problem, he is out for the rest of the day. Following day we are both tired, DH says that maybe he will have just salad and not pasta for lunch. But he cannot resist, eats the pasta anyhow. That was yesterday. Well, DH spent the night in the bathroom. His D is like water, his stomach cramps are intense. Meanwhile I am still C; he jokes that if we combine our symptoms we are just right. I grit my teeth and tell him that I think he might be the celiac of the family.

DH did not appreciate my suggestion. He says I act like I have a hammer and now everything is a nail. (I have the tendency to do that.) And indeed, what is the probability that both of us have celiac disease? Any suggestions of how to proceed from here? Should I convince him to get a GI appointment and get tested? Or am I just projecting my prejudices on him?

[Skylark]

You planted a seed. Stand back and see if it grows. It's very easy to label everything under the sun gluten intolerance, and if you don't give him space to start looking at his own symptoms he'll just keep fighting you. It's possible your poor hubby just had a round of flu, so keep an eye over the next few days.

[cassP]

you both could yes. you never know really... and you cant always tell by the symptoms... you might as well BOTH get tested- it cant hurt really.. its better than not knowing and possibly getting really sick in the future.

and even if you both come up negative- the fact that you feel better OFF gluten should motivate you. some Celiacs dont have any gut issues- and some NONCeliacs can feel awful or even develop Crohns or Colitis....

its just so tricky sometimes.

enjoy the pizza for me

[ravenwoodglass]

It does sound like you are both positive to the gluten challenge even though your reactions were a bit different.

On the endoscopy, if you have been really gluten light for a while you need more than 2 weeks back on a gluten diet. Most advise at least 2 months. If you biopsy after just 2 weeks your chances of a false negative are pretty high. Even on a full gluten diet you still have a chance of a false negative. You don't need a doctors permission to be gluten free but if you really want a doctor derived diagnosis then you may want to move the biopsy back another 6 weeks.